My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, or lose heart when you are punished by him;

For the Lord disciplines those whom he loves, and chastises every child whom he accepts.

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—disputes without and fears within.

But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us.

Titus told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it.

(though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly).

Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance;

For you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death.

For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment!

At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter.

So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who was wronged, but in order that your zeal for us might be made known to you before God.

In this we find comfort. Our heart goes out all the more to you, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you welcomed him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

Heb 12:5-6; 2 Cor 7:5-13, 16

Title: My Sediments Exactly

Text: Neh 8:9-12

MP: We must be in the Word of the Lord regularly to renew our joy.

FCF:

Outline:

- Johnstown

- Ignorance

- Sorrow

- Joy

- James Eads dredging the Mississippi

I think it’s safe to say that whoever came up with the expression “Ignorance is bliss,” didn’t grow up in Pennsylvania around 1889.

A bit to the southwest of Altoona, the South Fork dam held back a lake called Lake Conemaugh. The rich and wealthy of the day – everybody from Andrew Mellon to Andrew Carnegie – used to escape the hustle and bustle of Pittsburgh by going to their private club – the South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club. It was a nice enough lake – about 2 miles long and a mile across, 60 feet deep. At the far end of the River, there was an earthen dam that was more than 70 years old.